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Leonardo After Hours: The InventriXXes: Women Scientists Who’ve Changed the World

When it comes to the topic of women in science, Marie Curie is one of the most renowned and well-known role models. Curie, who discovered two elements, became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1903. In 1911, she was the first person, regardless of gender, to win a second Nobel Prize in a difference science. While notoriously successful Curie was not the first female scientist, nor was she the last. In fact, generations of women have since pursued technical and scientific fields and continue Curie’s legacy of pioneering innovations in science and technology.

On July 19, The Leonardo and the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) will host Leonardo After Hours: The InventriXXes: Women Scientists Who’ve Changed the World.

The event will begin at 6:00 pm at the Leonardo in downtown Salt Lake City and will examine the psychology behind how we as a society value innovation and will make the case for why the world’s most important invention could very well have been created by a She.

Join local scientists Shelley Minteer, Pearl Sandick, Matt Might, Stacy Bamberg and a live audience to explore the role women have and will continue to play in science.

The panel of researchers work on some of the most complex questions and technologies of our time.

Minteer, a USTAR researcher and a professor of chemistry, materials science and engineering at the University of Utah (U of U), is working to change the nature of batteries. Minteer will share her experience as the lead of the Alternative and Renewable Energy research team at the U of U and a pioneer in biological or greener battery technology.

Moving from the bright lights powered by batteries to dark matter, Sandick, a U of U assistant professor in the department of physics and astronomy focuses on the connections between theoretical particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics. She will share her experiences as a woman scientist exploring the theories behind dark matter and gamma rays.

However, exploring the most mysterious parts of the universe would not be possible without the computing technology both women and men have contributed to. Might, an assistant professor at the U of U’s school of computing department will give his take on the impact women have had in science and technology. Might’s research focuses on static analysis of higher-order programs and heads the combinatory software systems research group focusing on advanced languages, compilers and tools to improve the performance, parallelism, security and correctness of software.

While the research on batteries, subatomic particles and computing technology may all generate amazing innovations in their fields, Bamberg will share her experience of taking innovation to commercialization. Bamberg is the owner of Veristride, a spinout company from the U of U that is housed at the BioInnovations Gateway (BiG). Veristride has developed the RapidRehab system, which consists of an instrumented insole worn in the shoes and a phone application to provide the user feedback. This innovative technology has been improving the quality of life for Lower-limb amputees can use the system to reduce how much they limp.

Leonardo After Hours is free to the public, but an RSVP is required. Refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. To RSVP or for more information about the Leonardo or Leonardo After Hours visit: www.theleonardo.org/programs/leo_after_hours/.